Rebound damper and shock absorber for motor road vehicles



June ,29 1925. 1,590,395

F. SMITH REBOUND DAMPER AND SHOCK ABSORBER FOR MOTOR ROAD VEHICLES Fil O 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June as 1926. I 1,590,395

F. SMITH REBOUND DAMPER AND SHOCK ABSORBER FOR MOTOR ROAD VEHICLES Filed Nov 25, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 29, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK SMITH, or ELLAND, ENGLAND.

REBOUND DALEPER AND SHOCK ABSORBER FOR MOTOR ROAD VEHICLES.

Application filed November 25, 1924, Serial No.

a separate and different restraining actionupon the said spring during its compression movement, or its expansion movement, or for stiffening the spring equally in both directions thereof; the adjustment of the compression movement or for equally stiffening the spring, being effected Without interference with the rebound movement;in

, no circumstances, however, can the stiffening of the spring on the compression move ment exceed that already adjusted for the rebound or expansion movement.

In combination'with the above-mentioned mechanism I provide a combined locking 7 catch and indicator, whereby the adjustment of the rebound or, expansion movement of all the laminated vehicle springs may be uniform and the amount of such adjustment indicated thereon.

In constructing my invention I also employ an improved form of brake-lining which is preferably fitted loosely within the brake-band in order that it may adapt itself to the wear and tear, prevent harshness in its grip, and the access of any undesirable matter entering between the gripping faces at the part where the ends of the said band converge.

According to the present invention, I preferably construct the brake-band and its operating lever in one piece, with the bore of said band eccentric thereto in order to proportionately strengthen the same where the strain put thereon is greatest. The lever is bossed or thickened at the heel or part where it joins the brake-band and is there bored and arecess formed therein adapted to receive the customary tension spring, and the screwed portion of the tension bolt, passed through the opposite end of the brake-band in the manner shown and described in my former patent aforesaid.

The spring within the recess is co1n- I pressed to tighten the band about the brakedrum, by an internally and externally screw-threaded boss forming. part of a nut 752,134, and'in Great Britain January 21, 1924.

screwing on to the aforesaid bolt and preferablyinto engagement with a loose washer thereon fitting against the end of the spring. A disc nut is screwed on to the boss of the .former nut and has a notched or clutch face thereon comprising preferably two inclined planes in which are formed a series of'dimples or recesses at spaced intervals, one of which is adapted to be engaged by a spring catch or stud housed in the lever, to lock the same after each adjustment. This nut, which has reference solely to the damping of the compression movement of the spring, is limited in movement to onehalf a revolution only, on completion of which it is in engagement with the lever, and on being reversed it is held by the spring catch aforesaid. Indicators are provided upon both the nut and the lever for the purpose of showing the amount of adjustment effected at this part.

A projection, catch, or finger is formed upon or is secured to the nut screwing on to the tension bolt aforesaid which is adapted to engage one of a number of notches or annular grooves formed in a cylindrical indicator or head carried by a spindle whose opposite end is preferably housed in the brake-band, in order to ensure that the adjustment of the rebound movement of one of the vehicle springs may be uniformly or similarly effected inthe rest of the said springs. A hexagon head may also be formed upon the said nut, if desired, to assist in the rotating of the nut.

My improved cork lining for the brakeband I construct of a length sufficient to wholly surround the brakedru1n with the ends preferably joined together, by forming a kind of tenon projection upon one end which is adapted to fit into a corresponding recess formed in the other end of the said lining to form a complete sleeve. These ends are only partly in mesh when fitting the lining loosely within the brake-band so that said lining may adapt itself to the conditions of wear and tear in order that the grip thereof will not readily be impaired with use, but for this purpose, allow the ends to gradually approach during continued wear until they eventually become wholly enmeshed, so greatly prolonging the period of usefulness or duration thereof. As a modification I may connect the ends of the and so e'nc-lose the lubricant between the gripping "surfaces froni'which it cannot es- "cape except by exudation=at the sides there- 1 2 In connection with my device 'foi' the pur- -poseof supplying'lubrieant to the gripping faces; Ipreferahly construct one-of the'bolts securingthe cover plateto the sideof the brake drum, with ac'entral *boreand -form the drum.

cured at the 'top 'or the bottom of the drum 3t an-extension thereof to receive the lubricant which 151 closed 'bya' cap screwing thereon.

An oil duct establishes communication between the bolt andthe lubricant groove in The lubricator bolt may be -seas desired.

hearr'angementof the brake band upon the drum and'its' lever, is such as shown and described in-=my former *patentfwhere nor mally 'no" restraint is put upon the upward or compression movementof the vehicle spr ng;"but theeifect'of screwing up the nut as aforesaid uponthe'brake band is-sucli-as to "proportionately increase the grip of-such l movement. By giving revolution the "catch will move"down the movement.

said restraining action being uniform upon the rest of the said vehicle springs, and no inatter what amount of adjustment is made 'it'can at once be seen on reference to the indicator, whether the adyustment of one :springisin; agreement with the rest of the said springs.

lVhen requi-ring to usexthe devicefor exercising a restraint or control upon the compression movement of the springf the disc gitudinalsupplygrooveto the outside of the I brake-drum; i f'discontinue' such grooves" a short 'di-st-ai'icefrom the sides-of the: band nut screwing onto the boss of the other nut 111213 lie-given a tui'n'ingmovenient within its limit, without interfering 'with the istter or its adjustment upon t-he rebound.

This 'dise'nut' normally occupies a neural 'POSltlOH "leaving a space between the and- aining actionthereon *to A that ai'n'ount. Each adjustment of thisnutisie'elre 10' he spring stud inthe' lever engaging on f he recesses in the clutchface thereof; return of the nut td the neutralpes" ion,-or

clutch faces 'but any lessening of the space .by the rotationof the nutcorrespondingly limits the upward in'ovement of' the l'ever the vehicle spring andeic eises' reso as to cut out the res tra'int u oii theeempressi'on inoveinent is effected "within a ha'lf *band upon the brake-drum andeffect a corresponding restraining action on the'vehicie spring during its'expansion or downward revolution thk-ireof and it is prevented from exceedingthis movement alsOTby the spring stud aforesaid. "By further ti'ghteningtm disc nut on to 'the lever the action of the springin the lever may lee-entirely ut out, th

- spring becomes equal in' both diree tionsg that en the restraint exerei'sed upoiih ehicle is; the l device-now s'tiffens the -sp' Big-equally in both dire'ctions of its-mevemer t The Stll'lQlHng on 2 the 'coinpr'essioninoveiifent however can under no circumstances be inade *to exceed that already "exereiseduipeii the rebound,-"and to increase thisstiffening i "is only necessary to still further tightem the nut compressingthe -springiiithelver. If

WVhen it isr'equiredto u'sethe deviceas= rebound-damper only; that is; toetfect-a restraining action upon the expansion movement of a vehic le spring,and assuming the nut screwingron' td the tension bolt is inthe normal or neutral position'orunierely in engagement with the loose "washer aforesaid or with=thespring inthe lever with the catch'locired in thefirst'or-top groove iii the 1 indicator, as'is clearly sliowirat'Fig. 1; any further screwnigupof thenut'at once conip-resses the said spring and exercises through restraining effect upon the laminated vehicle spring durin indicator and into engagement with "the next groove therein the'side'of which enters the dished end ofthe"ca tch and locks" the latter until again required'to be'moved. To

correspondingly adjust the nut upon the device of each wheel will'ensure the aforedesired,"-the clutch v faces aforesaid may -be dispensed"- with and iiiat conta" ing s'ubstituted, etherwi'se'the manipulation and -locking'*of the disc nut are asbe'fore described. I attain these -obyeets"by thev'means illustrated in -the' accom anyin drawin s, i in 1 which 'Fig. 1 is front elevation ofniy improved rebound-damper andsho'ck-ahsorber, shewing themeans -for' adyirstn'ig the restraining thelever and connections a corresponding "its rebound or' expansion the nut afconiplete action upon the movements- 01 the' spring, occupying neutralpositions Fig. 2 is a similar VIEW of the brake-band and le'ver' employed therein f Fig. is afplanviewofFig.

2 Fig; t 'is end View of -the*b eke-di-um showing the brake-band andit s 'liningfin section, the cover plate attach-ed,"'arid the means for lubricating the gripping faces thereof; Fig; is aneleV'a'tion :of' the" lubricator bolternployed for securing" the "coverpia te' to the 'brake drum; Figs. (Sand; 7" are elevation and plan of'th'e 'b'rak'e lining showing the construction of the oblique lubricant grooves therein, and in broken lines the manner of joining the ends of said lining; Figs. 8 and 9 are similar views showing a modifica tion of oint in such lining; Fig. 10 is a plan view of the clutch face of the disc nut; Fig. 11 is an elevation of Fig. 10; Figs. 12 and 13 are elevation and plan of the nut screwing on to the tension bolt; Fig. 14 is an elevation of the tension bolt.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, A is the brakeband forming a part of the lever B mounted on a drum F preferably bolted to the chassis, C is a ball-head coupling connected with the wheel axle or the like, D is the boss or thickened portion of the lever B, in which is a recess E containing the tension spring F. G is the tension bolt passing through the lug H of the band A in the well known manner and by means of the bore J into the recess E. The head G of the bolt G has bevelled or rounded faces G which operate to maintain a direct axial movement of said bolt and prevent frictional contact with the bore during compression of the spring F. ii is a loose washer upon the bolt Gr, and L is a nut screwing upon the latter to compress the spring F and tighten the band A upon the drum F. M is a disc nut or the like screwing upon a boss N upon the nut L and having clutch or inclined faces P thereon adapted to more or less engage correspond ing parts it upon the lever B. S 18 a spring catch engaging one of the recesses T formed in the inclined faces of the nut M to lock the latter after each adjustment thereof. U is a finger provided with a dished recess V engaging a groove "W in an indicator X housed or supported by the band A. Y are notches in the nut M and Z is an indicator upon the lever B the relative positions of which show the amount of restraint put upon the compression movement of the vehicle spring, or, when such restraint is removed and the said nut is in the neutral position, as shown at Fig. 1.

l is the ordinary coverplate and 2 are bolts securing the same to the drum F 3 is the cork lining in which the oblique lubricant grooves therein only partly traverse the face thereof, 4- is a recess formed in one end of said lining with which more or less meshes the projection 5 upon the other end of the lining to form a complete sleeve of the latter; or the joint may be constructed as shown more clearly at Figs. 8 and 9. 6 is the usual lubricant groove in the brake-drum and, see Fig. 5, one of the bolts 2 has a longitudinal bore '7 therein connnunicating with a lubricantvessel 8 forming an extension of said bolt and 9 is a cap screwing on to said vessel for sealing same, whilst 10 are bores in the drum F communicating with the bolt holes 11 in said drum and the groove 6, for circulating and distributing lubricant to the gripping faces of the device.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A shock absorber for vehicles comprising a brake band, a lever forming a part of said band, brake lining within the band, a removable cover plate for said band and lining, means for securing the cover plate in position including a device for supplying lubricant to the brake lining, and means for adjusting the brake band.

2. A shock absorber for vehicles comprising a brake band, a lever forming a part of said band, brake lining within the band, a removable cover plate for said band and lining, means for securing the cover plate in position including a device for supplying lubricant to the brake lining, means for adjusting the brake band, and an indicator for positively determining the degree of adjustment of the brake band.

3. A shock absorber for vehicles comprising a brake band and lever construction, the band being provided with a cork lining having radially reduced overlapped end portions and provided on one face with a circumferential medial lubricant groove having at both sides a plurality of oblique 6X tensions, for the purpose described.

4. A shock absorberv for vehicles comprising a brake band having an eccentric bore, a lever at one end of the band provided with a recess, an apertured lug at the opposite end of the band, brake lining within the band, a bolt connected to said lug and eX- tending through the recess in the lever, a spring surrounding the bolt within said recess, and means for varying the tension of said spring and adjusting the band relative to the brake lining.

5. A shock absorber for vehicles comprising a brake band, a lever forming an extension of said band at one end, the opposite end of the band being provided with an apertured lug, a l -bolt having its stem extending through said lug and lever and having its head provided with beveled faces engaging the lug, a spring surrounding the bolt within the lever, and a pair of concentrically arranged adjustment nuts associated with said bolt and spring for effecting adjustment of the brake band.

6. A shock absorber for vehicles comprising a brake band and lever construction, said lever being provided with a recess, brake lining associated with said band, means for adjusting the band comprising a bolt, a coil spring surrounding the bolt and positioned within the recess formed in the lever, and a pair of adjustment nuts associated with said bolt and coil spring for changing and maintaining the relative positions of the brake band and lining.

recess for varying the tension or" brakeband'comprising a bolt, a coil spring surroundin the bolt, a nut having an intern'ally and externally screw-threaded boss,

a second nut movable on said boss, indicating means associated with the brake lever, and 5 means on said first mentioned nut cooperating with said I indicating means for positively determining the degree'ofadjustment of the brake band.

9. A shock absorber for vehicles comprising a brake band, a lever having arecess therein vforming a part Oil said band,' thc opposite end oi": the band comprising a lug havingan opening therethrougli, a T-bolt having a head provided with bevelled feces extending through said lug opening-and said recess, the bevelled faces said lug, a springwithin the recess surrounding 'the'bolt, a pair of concentrically arranged adjustment nuts associated with said bolt and spring for eli ecting adjustment of the brake band, and indicating means associated with said adjustment means "for determining the degree of adjustment effected.

10. A shoclnabsorber for vehicles comprising a single brake-band, a lever forming aapartof said band, a loosely fitting brake lining within the bend having intern'ieshing ends adapted to increasingly engage" each other to compensatefor wear and tear of said lining, a removable cover plate for said band and-lining, end means for securing the cover plate in position embodying a device ior supplying lubricant to the brake lining.

11. A shock-absorber for vehicles {C0111- prising single brake bend, lever forming apart Of-SfllClbMiCl,iv'lOOSGlY fitting brakelining' within the band'haviiig internieshing ends adapted toincreasingly ene each O-ZhGItO compensate forwear and er of said lining, a removable cover plate "ior saidband andiin-ing, means for securing the cover plate inposition embodying a device for supplying lubricant-to the brake lining,-and-ineans for ELClJHStlilg the brake band.

In testimony whereof, i have signed my name to this specification.

FRAN K SMITH. 

